Roulette is a classic casino game that can be found in just about any establishment with table games. It’s easy enough for beginners to learn, but offers plenty of betting options and variations that will interest experienced players. In order to win at this fast-paced table game, it’s important to understand the odds and house edge, as well as which bet types are best for your bankroll.
The game of Roullete begins with the croupier (that’s what they call dealers in roulette) spinning a wheel while players place their bets. Once the wheels starts to spin, players can no longer change or retract their bets. Once the croupier announces “No More Bets,” the players watch as the ball flies around and eventually settles into a slot that corresponds to a number on the wheel. If that number is the player’s chosen one, they win!
There are three major roulette variations: American, European, and French. The only difference is the presence of a single or double zero on the wheel and table. This significantly increases the probability of losing a bet, although this is mitigated by the ‘La Partage’ and ‘En Prison’ rules that give players half their money back on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero.
When you’re ready to play, purchase a color of chips from the dealer. Roulette chips do not have a denomination printed on them; instead, they’re marked with a special symbol that signifies their value. Each player gets a different color of chips, so it’s easy to distinguish players at the table, and even spouses are recommended to separate during most roulette games.
Outside bets are placed on the non-numbered areas of the table, such as the ‘Dozens’ and ‘Columns’ bets. These bets have a lower house edge but pay out less money than inside bets. The payouts for these bets are clearly indicated on the table and range from 2-1 to 35-1 depending on the bet type.
Inside bets are placed on the numbered sections of the table and include the ‘Straight Up’ and ‘Split’ bets. These bets are more costly, but also offer better odds of winning. The ‘Straight Up’ bet pays out 36 chips for a single number, while the ‘Split’ bet pays 17-1 for two numbers that are adjacent to each other.
There are some tricks to playing roulette that are more complicated than others, but most are just basic mathematical principles. The truth is, there’s no surefire way to beat the house. Even the so-called “Eudaemons,” a group of physics postgraduates who used theoretical insights and a rudimentary computer concealed in their shoes to win at roulette in the 1970s, didn’t reveal exactly how they did it. So, the only thing you can do to maximize your chances of winning is to bet wisely.